Ep13 - Ivan Teleguz **URGENT** — misconduct. A True Crime Podcast

This case has affected me (and Colleen), more so than any other case thus far.

I cannot tell if it’s because the urgency of it, as he is set to be executed on April 25th, 2017? Is it because he’s from a large family, much like mine, and it hits closer to home; or is it the just blatant misconduct? Whatever it is, I feel deeply about this case and Ivan and I really wanted to get his story out there and hopefully get people calling/emailing the governor and signing the petition because I truly believe they are about to kill an innocent man.

As we said in the show, I think if you’re pro or anti death penalty, that’s besides the point because I think we can all agree that if someone is being put to death as a punishment for a crime, we better be damn sure they are guilty, with no doubts whatsoever.

And, as we go through in this episode, there is way too much doubt in this case. Just the fact that there are two sworn affidavits from two of the three men who testified against Ivan stating they lied on the stand.

Ivan is represented by Virginia Capital Representation Resource Center (the non profit we mentioned in the episode) and Kirkland & Ellis (who, after hearing of Ivan’s case, has represented him, pro bono, since before the evidentiary hearing, which is amazing). At the end of the episode, you hear the voices of two of his attorneys (Elizabeth P and Mike W) taken from the DOCUMENTARY on the Ivan’s Prayer for Justice website. You hear in their voice just how strongly they believe in his innocence and that this is a huge injustice.

Below are excerpts of Aleksey & Gilkes’ sworn affidavit recanting their trial testimony and swearing to the fact they lied because were coerced, threatened and offered a “deal” to point the finger at Ivan and go with the police's narrative of murder for hire. You will also see excerpts from the Hetrick police interview transcript. These are striking as you can see just how badly the police wanted Ivan, how tunnel vision they were about their theory and wanted to "get him" at any cost (to the surprise of Hetrick who states “you’re willing to give the guy who deserves the death penalty a deal?”).

I think, if Virginia goes through with Ivan’s execution, they will be killing an innocent man and something sparked inside me that made me want to do anything I could to try to stop this from happening.

So, I decided we could do an episode on Ivan and then ask our listeners: If you feel the same, we ask that you call/email Governor McAuliffe and ask him to stop Ivan’s execution. The picture below gives you all the information you need to call or email (as well as a form letter you can send with your email). You can also sign the change.org petition here as well.

If we can have a hand in saving this man’s life and let him fight another day to prove his innocence, I would sleep a little better at night knowing we banded together and helped this man see his mom, dad, sisters and brothers again.

Virginia, please do not kill an innocent man.

~Eileen

Resources, Media, Information

Website and Documentary

Sign the Petition

Justice for Ivan Twitter

Justice for Ivan Facebook